de, across the desert to Bir el Esani. The country,
up to this point, was patrolled by the Imperial Camel Corps (I.C.C.), and
it might be termed the limit of the country so far in British occupation,
as, at Esani, patrols of British and Turks were frequently in the habit of
watering their horses in the wadi _when the other was not about_! The next
day (October 18th), a reconnaissance was made across the Wadi Mirtaba and
towards Goz-el-Naam. "B" and "C" Sub-sections were attached to the "S.R.Y."
and "S.N.H." but saw no "targets" to justify the opening of machine-gun
fire. "A" Sub-section was in reserve. The following day (the 19th), the
Brigade returned to Amr. The experience gained by the Machine Gun Squadron
during these operations proved to be most valuable; the animals were fit,
but certainly rather fagged; the transport was found to be too heavily
loaded, and the pack-animals were also tired.

Orders were now received that when operations started the Squadron would
move out five Sub-sections strong. This would mean a severe test for "D"
and "E" Sub-sections. "D" Sub-section under Lieut. Raynor, was well in
hand, although only formed a few weeks previously, but the equipment for
"E" (and "F") had only just been drawn!

HIGH-SPEED WORK.

On October 20th, Lieut. Price, M.C., Lieut. Millman and Sec.-Lieut. Kindell
(all from the recent draft from Maresfield) arrived at the Camp. Lieut.
Price at once took over the organization of "E"; Lieut. Millman was
nominally posted to "F" and Sec.-Lieut. Kindell supernumerary, for the time
being. It could hardly be said that the formation of "E" Sub-section had
been "rushed"! The term is hardly suitable--"Cyclonic" would be nearer the
mark! It literally had horses and equipment issued to it one day, and was
fighting the next. At length, on October 25th, definite orders were
received for the first phase of the projected operations against Beersheba
to be undertaken, and, the next day, Sec.-Lieut. Kindell and three O.R.'s
(Ptes. Carr, Ineson and Marshall), with representatives from other units of
the Brigade, proceeded with the Staff Captain and Brigade Intelligence
Officer, to Esani, in order to "take-over" the camping area and reconnoitre
the outpost-line there.

Lieut. Macmillan and five O.R.'s (Ptes. J. Howlett, A. Jacques, S. Morris,
A. Tivey and E.A. Riley), who were chosen as stout-hearted men, reported to
Col. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., at Gamli, for special duty. Bad luck att